RDK

Got this early today from emusic but haven't had a chance to really listen to it yet. The samples were tantalizing.

The CD, btw, is mighty fine, Paul. Really dig "Caravan" and your cover of "Losing My Religion." Love to see you guys in person someday.

Interesting explanation last night (by Costas iirc) about why this is the last year for baseball and softball in the Olympics. It seems the IOC wants the "stars" of baseball to show up - like the pros who appear for basketball - but since pro baseball is a summer sport that's not possible. And the amateur/college players who now compete aren't considered good enough for prime time. Meanwhile, women's softball is a sport so utterly dominated by the U.S. that it's no longer considered much of a contest anymore. In other words, there's no one else out there good enough for the U.S. team to play.

I can't think of any jokes that don't cross some obvious line.

Actually, I got the title wrong: Fever, Smoke and Fire. Don't know about the King Curtis. Knew the one you ment. The King Curtis album is "Swingin' on a Star". Always been curious to hear that one. It appears available with a blog search.

Well, lemme ask ... what's the advantage to having an underage gymnast? Wouldn't a 16-year-old who has trained longer and is more developed muscularly have an advantage over a young child? ... I'm not quite making the connection here with younger (than 16) = an advantage. I think it's a size/weight advantage. Otherwise, yeah, I think the age requirement is pretty much arbitrary. Then again, there has to be a minimum age requirement, doesn't there?

Nah, I dig Costas. But I'm glad Phelps is over and done with.

Indeed. Much better than yelling at kids to get offa the lawn.

"You know what they call a Spam sandwich in France?" "A Royale with Spam."

On the other extreme, I watched more women's gymnastics last night. Some of those Chinese kids? Sixteen my ass!

good point.

no.

Haven't seen Jack in many years, though he still plays several regular gigs around town each week. He was, however, the first jazz cat I saw/heard when I first moved to L.A. many moons ago. He used to have a regular gig at the Money Tree in Toluca Lake, and with no cover charge and me without a job I must have seen him once a week for two or three months straight. Can't beat the man for telling stories. Yeah, and his trumpet playing's not bad either.

How many are voted in each year? Just one? Heck, I can name twenty off the top of my head who should be in right now!

A fan here, but not an obsessive one. Dig him, but a little goes a long way for me.

Adam, I know they had some the other day at the BB on Los Feliz. They're usually on the rack near the iTunes cards.

The hell Zappa and Hendrix doing in the Downbeat HOF?

As to the thread title, this is the highest-rated Olympics since the Atlanta games (1996), and with all of the secondary cable channels and on-line resources most likely have been watched by more people than ever. So I guess the answer is "yes."

That's it?? I've probably got 700-800. Well I'm trying to be practical!

Jack Sheldon is the survivor of West Coast Jazz.

Yeah, but can you burn off 12,000 calories doing your kind of "perfect exercise?"

Congrats Ed! We've missed you around here.

And some of you guys complain about the Hoffman board!

I've got 319 items in my "saved for later!"

Old news now - I been away - but that may have been the single most exciting swimming competition I've ever seen. And the melodramatic backstory - the French "mouthing off" - made it all the better.